The aim of this paper is to present a model for the interpretation of imperative sentences in which reasoning agents play the role of speakers and hearers. A requirement is associated with both the person who makes and the person who receives the order which prevents the hearer coming to inappropriate conclusions about the actions s/he has been commanded to do. By relating imperatives with the actions they prescribe, the dynamic aspect of imperatives is captured and by using the idea of encapsulation, it is possible to distinguish what is demanded from what is not. These two ingredients provide agents with the tools to avoid inferential problems in interpretation.
展开▼